Bring this water-friendly tech to the beach, pool

Toothpaste and orange juice. Drinking and texting. Donald and Hillary. Some things (er, or people) just don’t go well together. And you can add “technology” and “water” to that list.

Unless, of course, you pick up the right gadgets in time for summer, when you’re likely to be spending time in a backyard, by the pool or at the beach.

Water-friendly tech means you can bring them wherever the fun is and without fear of damage. They’re also ideal in case of an unexpected sun shower. Or perhaps if you’re worried about sweating while wearing a portable electronic device? And so the following is a snapshot of a few wet n' wild tech toys to consider.

A fitter you

The latest in the Fitbit family of activity trackers, the Fitbit Alta ($129.95) is a wearable, wireless and water-resistant fitness band that tracks steps, distance, calories burned, sleep patterns, and more. Along with showing you info on the lightweight tracker’s OLED screen, it also wirelessly sends all the info to a phone, tablet or laptop (for a deeper data dive). Customization is key, with support for a variety of adjustable metal, leather and classic bands, as well as various clock styles to choose from.

Splish, splash

The Fuji FinePix XP90 camera.(Photo: Fuji)

If all the action happens in and around the pool or lake, why aren’t you immortalizing all these memories? The Fuji FinePix XP90 ($229.99) is a fully waterproof 16.4-megapixel point-and-shoot camera with 5x optical zoom, smart image stabilization and 1080p HD video recording. Sold in multiple colors, the XP90 houses a 3-inch LCD screen with anti-reflective coating to make it easy to see in bright sunlight. Along with being waterproof to 50 feet, this pocket-sized digicam is also drop-proof to 5.8 feet, freeze-proof to 14°F, and dust-proof, as well.

Channel this

The SunBrite outdoor television.(Photo: SunBrite)

Just because you're relaxing outdoors on a summer evening doesn't mean you need to miss your favorite TV shows. The extra bright 65-inch SunBriteTV SB-6570HD TV ($7,699.99) features an all-weather exterior that protects internal components from rain, dirt and insects, along with a quad-fan airflow system that keeps the television cool and dry. This slender 1080p HD, LED-backlit and anti-glare TV also includes a detachable 20-watt speaker bar. Game of Thrones while sipping a cold one in a backyard hot tub? Sign me up.

Sound advice

The Sony SRS Bluetooth speaker.(Photo: Sony)

What goes better with summer than music? OK, maybe barbequed meat. But tunes are a significant part of the season, too. The Sony SRS-XB2 ($99.99) and larger SRS-XB3 ($149.99) are portable, powerful, and IPX5 water-resistant audio systems for any Bluetooth-enabled device (plus there’s a line-in aux jack for non-wireless players). The “XB” stands for “extra bass,” with a dedicated button on top for when you want to punch up the low frequencies. These colorful speakers also include: NFC tap-to-pair functionality with compatible devices; a daisy chain feature to add another speaker (for stereo or double sound); a USB port to charge a phone; and a built-in mic for hands-free calls. Battery life tops 12 hours between charges.

Read between the lines

The Kobo Aura tablet.(Photo: Kobo)

The world’s first premium ebook reader, the Kobo Aura H20 ($179.00) is IP67-certified, so you can read while lounging around (or floating in) a pool, at the beach, or while slipping into a bubble bath at home. The anti-glare e-ink screen can be read clearly in bright sunlight, or take advantage of the integrated light to read while curled up in bed (without bothering your partner by turning on a bedside lamp). The Kobo eBookstore features more than 4 million titles, plus you can borrow ebooks for free from your local library. The Kobo can last up to 2 months on a single charger (USB cable included).

Sammy for summer

Samsung's Galaxy S7.(Photo: Samsung)

Along with its stunning 5.1-inch screen, fast processor, and support for wireless charging, the Samsung Galaxy S7 ($199 on 2-year term) is also water- and dust-proof (IP68 rated), which means it could withstand up to 5 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. Ideal for outdoor fun, the metal and glass Android phone also boasts a better battery, greatly improved camera (that lets in 50 percent more light) and along with 32GB of internal storage you can also pop in a memory card (up to 200GB) to expand storage, if need be – a feature missing from last year’s Galaxy S6 family.